Music News

Rob Zombie has put the call out for help, as one of his ‘House of 1,000 Corpses’ cast members is in serious need. The director is rallying his fans to support actress Karen Black as she receives much needed medical treatment to fight ampullary cancer.

Black, who was Mama Firefly in the Zombie film, was first diagnosed with cancer in 2010. After a brief respite, she recently learned that the cancer had come back. Black’s husband, Stephen Eckelberry, penned an open letter asking for financial assistance as the actress attempts to undergo special treatment in Europe with the hopes of recovery.

Eckelberry stated, “The cancer is minimized, but we know from past experience that it won’t be long before it comes back. Her oncologist in Los Angeles has recommended that she do chemo therapy, but the problem is that she is skin and bones — before starting on this journey she weighed 156 pounds, she now weighs 96 pounds … Karen has been confronting the fact that she would die soon if she didn’t do something. BUT THERE IS HOPE. Karen’s family physician of many years called us two weeks ago and told us of success she has had with several of her patients doing a treatment in Europe as part of a clinical study there. … This is a medically supervised program and it targets Karen’s kind of cancer. In fact, we personally know two of the patients that have had remarkable recoveries from cancer there. So we know it works, and right now it is her best and only shot.”

Zombie, along with his wife Sherri Moon Zombie and fellow ‘House of 1000 Corpses’ actor Bill Moseley, are among those who’ve rallied their fans to support Black’s cancer battle. To donate, please visit the ‘Help Karen Beat Cancer’ site here.

In other Rob Zombie news, the rocker has launched a contest via his website where fans could win a walk-on role in his next film. The musician says that he’s been asked repeatedly by fans about the possibility of being part of his movies and he decided to launch the contest to do just that. At present, Zombie isn’t sure what his next film will be as of yet, but he says in a video announcing the promotion that no matter what the movie is, the winner of the contest will receive a walk-on part. To enter, simply visit the Zombie dedicated website at www.lordsofsalem.com/WIN.